The Nigerian House of Representatives rescinds resolution on Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited following a formal motion moved on the floor of the Green Chamber. The legislative reversal nullifies an earlier parliamentary decision concerning a petition brought forward by the Nsisan-Obari Royal Palace Alesa Council of Chiefs.
Hon. Francis E. Waive sponsored the motion for rescission. He anchored his legislative argument on strict adherence to parliamentary standing orders and the constitutional separation of powers between the legislature and the judiciary.
The dispute stems from a formal petition submitted by the Nsisan-Obari Royal Palace Alesa Council of Chiefs against Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited. In their submission, the council of chiefs accused the petrochemical company of violating key provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Following standard legislative procedure, the House Committee on Public Petitions investigated the claims. The committee subsequently submitted its findings to the lower chamber, and the House formally considered and adopted the report’s resolutions on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.
During plenary, Hon. Waive drew the attention of lawmakers to the legal status of the underlying dispute. He noted that the core issues surrounding the petition are currently active before a court of competent jurisdiction, making the matter sub-judice.
Continuing to enforce or execute legislative resolutions on a pending court case violates established parliamentary conventions. According to the motion, pursuing such actions creates an avoidable institutional conflict between the National Assembly and the judiciary, potentially overreaching into judicial independence and undermining the rule of law.
To rectify the procedural overlap, the motion invoked Order Nine, Rule 1(5) and (6) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.
Specifically, Order Nine, Rule 1(5) explicitly restricts lawmakers from deliberating on active court matters. The rule states that:
“Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending in such a way as might, in the Speaker’s opinion, prejudice the interest of parties thereto.”
By upholding this provision, the House demonstrated its commitment to due process and non-interference in ongoing judicial proceedings.
Following the presentation of the motion, the House of Representatives rescinds resolution on Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited in its entirety. The chamber officially vacated its earlier decision adopted on 2 June 2026 regarding the alleged PIA 2021 violations, leaving the substantive legal questions to be determined solely by the courts.
